Saturday, December 29, 2012

I'm still struggling to post. Mostly I don't understand how to get pictures on here and that seems like it shouldn't be so hard. I'm using my iPad. I'm writing this on the blogger app. I take pictures with my iPhone and iPad and they're all saved in camera, or photostream, actually ON this device. Well, anyway it drives me a bit wacko and keeps me from even trying most days.

It was a very intense week of work from the real job perspective and I didn't get much done in the sewing cave. But there was some good mail this week so I started the day today with pressing and folding the latest batches of new fabric.

I just love seeing it all freshly pressed! But there is no more room in my FQ/half yard shelves. I need to sew more! And perhaps buy less (but don't tell the captain, he already thinks that!).

I've enjoyed reading about others finishes and lists of makes for the year and discussions of what will be on the list for next year. I haven't gotten to that yet, but I am going to Sew South in March, and joined the Lucky Stars BOM hosted by Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy. I'm participating in my first ever swap, the Low Volume Charm Swap hosted by Lori at Lori H. Designs, and I even have my fabric, though I'm kind of nervous to cut it - what if I biff it? I'll do it tomorrow anyway. I think I joined something else, but I can't remember what it was. I do have at least twelve lifetimes worth of projects on my "I want to make THIS" list. I intend to make a real list and will strive to participate in linkys.

Monday, December 24, 2012

It has been a very fun year of sewing and fabric and following bloggers, all you good and generous people all over the world.

While the captain and I mostly don't celebrate Christmas out here on the water, its impossible not to feel the kinship and connection with loved ones and fellow travelers at this time of year. My heart is joyful. Thank you for all you share. What a wonderful world we live in. Despite the hurtful bits, we're mostly good, us humans. God bless us, every one.

This latest make courtesy of Katy at imagingermonkey, quick piecing a granny. My first granny. In remembrance of Myrtle, the best Gram ever.

Merry Christmas.

xxoo
Holli

(I should apologize for the quality of the iPad photo, but if you saw where I sew, you'd be amazed I can take a picture at all -- let alone sew!)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

I should have been sewing Christmas presents, or a quilt, or a pillow top, or anything. But I spent the day cleaning up the cave. By around 2:30 everything was put away and cleaned up but for a pile of fabric that had been laundered (I prewash all my fabric, but then I have to press it). So I pressed it. Not too much - I used to iron it all super smooth but realized that was a waste of my time and energy. Just enough so it will lay pretty flat and tidy. One+ yards are folded onto those comic boards and kept in the (relatively) big closet. Half yards and fat quarters are folded the same and kept together. The stack of orange is from the November shipment of Stash Builders from Pink Castle Fabrics. I have a lot of orange in my stash already but I think its my favorite color. The Decembers should be here Monday or Tuesday so I at least have to be caught up with ironing if not actually using them! December is browns - really? Brown? Ick. I was going to cancel for the month but I thought I'd go ahead and see what comes in. I don't have a lot of brown (do you?) and maybe it'll inspire something. Or not.

I love to prewash my fabric. It gives me a chance to get to know it. I have to unfold it so its free to agitate in the washer and dryer. When it comes out of the dryer - often way too dry, but that's usually ok because I rarely have time to press it at that moment - I get to fold it the first time, and it all looks different from when I bought or ordered it. (And how about fabric lint? Its the best! All soft and colorful!) Then I take it back to the boat (my laundry is done at the marina facility) and usually take it down to the cave. Where it sits until I have a chunk of time to iron and fold it. That's the special time with my fabric. Laying it out on my big (relatively) cutting/pressing table, spreading it flat and feeling the fibers, and noticing the print and how it was applied and where it repeats. Then the iron itself (which is a total pain in the **! - this latest is an expensiveish supposedly nice iron that the captain bought me for Christmas last year and it has been frustrating from day one what with its not getting hot enough and spitting all the time and turning off when it should still be on, but I do like the little feet that take it up off the surface when I let go, though that is a bit of a danger as other irons I have used in friends' homes and hotels while traveling DON'T do that!) (where was I?) going over the fabric and I get to spend more time looking at it and imagining how it can be used (apparently, primarily to sit prettily on my shelves, but I'm working on it).

Here's where the FQs and Halfs hang out. I like them alot.

This was written 12/18/12 but I couldn't figure out how to get the pictures to post properly until just now. I'm sure it was worth waiting for - haha. Merry Christmas again!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

A successful day of sewing. And now a blog post. These were my goals for this two weeks the Captain is off riding his bicycle with friends: sewing; and trying to better figure out how to blog.

I made this pincushion/threadcatcher, pocket thing (it is actually called a Weighted Pincushion Organizer) based on Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial at Sew Mama Sew. In the photo above it is in the salon (boatspeak for living room) because my sewing room is too dark. I really like the way it looks, but it isn't heavy enough. Maybe I used the wrong rice. It falls off my sewing table and I've only put one thread into the threadcatcher. I think I'll open it back up and maybe put in crushed walnut shells (I have a bag of them) to replace the fiberfill (I'll keep the rice also). Maybe I'll also put some nonskid on the bottom of it so it holds. And maybe I'll put the threadcatcher off to the side, because I also kind of run into it when I'm sewing. I had thought about it when I made it - keep in mind, I have a teensy weensy sewing space - but I always like to (try to) make things they way they are described before trying to insert my own opinions (don't hold me to it, though).
When I was finished with that, I tackled a WIP. I'll try to post properly by linking up with Lee on WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. For now, here's a little look.

And yesterday I finished two hospice bears. (They're posing here in my car, a last minute snapshot before sending them off.) The fabric, typically an article of clothing, is supplied by family members - in this case a San Diego Padres' shirt worn and undoubtedly beloved by the person who used to wear it - and, with the prescribed pattern (and strict instructions to add no embellishments that were not part of the clothing provided), volunteers make up the bears, giving family members a sweet, and cuddly, reminder of someone they love.

We'll call this a successful post. Pictures, links, actual work having been done. Let's see if I can manage tomorrow as well.

. . . one more thing . . . someone told me that I have the "prove you're human" hurdle on my comments, but I can't see it to change it - if you see that I'm not allowing comments, please also let me know where I can turn that off - thanks! (and any other suggestions are welcome also - I have so much to learn!)

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About me

The Captain and I have two terrific grown children and the cutest dog, Elvis. I still have a real job but retirement is just on the Horizon. I made my first quilt in July 2011 for my best friend's first grandchild. I got hooked.